Diplomats already stationed in Japan, China, and the wider region would need routes out as alliances changed. Japanese authorities are expected to follow diplomatic conventions by putting ambassadors on neutral ships, although suitable destinations become harder to find as American, German, and Italian alignments change. Norway is a plausible neutral intermediary because it lacks both the motive and the expeditionary naval capability to join the conflict. Coalition warfare changes civilian and diplomatic routes along with naval orders of battle.
Notable Point · 17:37-19:16
Diplomats, neutrals, and a wider war
The changing alignments raise practical questions about evacuating diplomats and using neutral shipping during a suddenly global conflict.